RSBreth

I get you on that. Winter fishing can be a slow grind.

We'll have to school you on the jerkbaits. It's not like you can throw them a year or two and be an expert, it's more like crankbaits - it takes a couple of years to get pretty good, then it seems that you get exponentially better as experience builds. Even jerkbait "experts" on flat water have a little trouble with current sometimes. You do better on shallow suspenders than the deep (or medium) divers you'd use at Table Rock. There isn't much going on w/the Finley. Water has been up and down, it's colder every week, and the leaves are like a blanket on top in some areas. Not the best conditions. Wait a couple of weeks for the Winter patterns to set up completely, then we'll see how it's doing.

Last time I fished FLW (at the BFL level) they used a release boat.

I think it was in Steve Groom's book "Modern Pheasant Hunting" where he sums it up pretty well - Close Shots (like behind pointing dogs or in thicker cover) Open chokes and 7 1/2 shot is fine. Most shots - #6 Long shots #5 I've used #6 the most, and mostly out of a 20 gauge. I have used the Hevi-Shot 3" 20-gauge load with #6 shot in areas where non-toxic shot was required, and that load knocks the snot out of Pheasants. In 12 gauge I'd be happy with any good 2 3/4" ounce and a quarter #6's all day long.

I love the timing of this, too. I'm a jerkbait nut, and really, really want to fish the co-angler side. Early March? Perfect. Probably won't be able to though, unless I start putting little jars at the gas station - "Local idiot wants to fish Bass Tourney - please give."

Yeah, it's been around.http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmas..._Japan_20090702 Still, it's a huge fish.

I was going to say try Doc Holiday's, but you found it. Is someone not planning ahead these days? .303 (of either stripe) isn't as common as it used to be. They need to stay stocked up. Or reload.

I wish I could have made it down there, too. Just too busy. Glad you had fun, though.

I tie some 20's and very, very few 22's these days. Midge patterns mostly for Taney and The White. 32's? Hope he's having fun with that.

I couldn't imagine having to synchronize two schedules just to be able to go fish. Love being able to just go, and not be stuck wading. That's the great thing about having a solo, but everyone's different. For some it's more of a social activity, but for me it's really about the fish.

Man I wish my little river over here was that clear right now. Good report.

I've done the "tandem canoe flipped backwards" thing sometimes for lake fishing with my old 'bomber" 15-ft coleman, but I'd hate to have to maneuver it down a technical river, or even the relatively sedate Finley and James. If you already had the 147 I'd say go for it, but considering you're wanting to buy something and get it right from the beginning. You'll have to probably paddle whatever you think will work first. Being a little bigger makes the choice harder, but I don't know why you couldn't find something.

I was driving around in it at my part-time gig last night. Mucho agua. I somehow don't think I'll be fishing Crane tomorrow like I planned...

Al's spinner is like the old Shannon Twin-Spin, which is pretty cool. I see several buzzbaits being made now with two blade arms, but not really any spinnerbaits. I'm mostly using a tarted up compact-frame spinnerbait in either fire-tiger (murky water) or white on white for clear. Tandem Colorado/Willow. No trailer hook.

Still Here.

Looks like you guys have the "creek sneak" down - crouching low and staying out of sight will always help when fishing Crane. Great report.

Yeah, you don't need bait to catch fish down on the White. I've taken people of all different skill levels down there fishing before, and you can always catch some fish on smaller minnow type lures (Rapala), small spinners and spoons (like the Thomas Buoyant or Little Cleo) and also jigs like Ham mentioned. This is especially true when they running water, like they will be most of this Fall. You may also want to take one heavier spinning or casting rig with say 8- or 10-pound test to throw a bigger XRap or other jerkbaits at a really nice looking spot. Stock up on some single replacement hooks for your teble-hook lures if you are going to fish single-hook areas, like Rim Shoals. You'll need the fishing regulations book, or you can download it here: CLICK HERE. Lot's of huge Browns and big Rainbows in the White, one of the best fishing spots in the entire middle section of the country. Bring a good camera, too.

I still think you should go with this one...http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Old-Town-Discovery...5QQcmdZViewItem I wonder if Bass Pro is stocking them (or could order one), I didn't look down in the canoe/kayak area the last time I was over there...

I'm another "Shim-bindo" victim. Won't use the Shimano brand spinning reels after that. I have had great luck with several Bass Pro spinners from old model Pro Qualifiers' to the JM Signature that was mentioned. Another great one these days is the Pflueger Supreme. Fantastic reel for 100 clams. None of those have failed on my like the Shimanos' did.

I generally like the crank to contact something - the bottom, timber, weeds, whatever. If the fish are suspended I usually do better with a jerkbait, swimming jig, Clouser Minnow on the fly rod, something that has them looking up, like Al said.

I haven't made too far out West, but I will say that the South Platte in Colorado is pretty nice, and although I really like the tailwaters around here, the North Fork of the White has always been a sweetie. If you avoid the Summer floaters, it can be very quiet, and you can catch some nice Browns on dries. Maybe it helps that the upper North Fork is one of my favorites for Smallies, too.

I use small chine anchor in Winter sometimes- and like Al said, never in fast water - the rope runs through a small eye-bolt on the stern, and I tie it off to a small quick clip cleat mounted to the gunnel right behind me. In summer or for floating I use a small mesh laundry bag filled with rocks for an anchor - easy to fill or dump out if I have to portage.

You know it's funny that I use the plain clinch most of the time, and rarely have problems with break-offs. For braid, another neat one is the double-through-the-hook-eye-then-uni-knot. Stops that problem with the line sliding through the gap in the hook-eye, and is my favorite for spinnerbaits with R-bend frames. Stays put. I know Al use co-poly line for spinnerbaits and not braid, but if you use superlines for spinnerbaits it's a great knot that's very easy to tie.

I can tell you that after all the flooding in '08, I had one of my best years fishing the Finley, for Bass, Crappies, and Rock Bass. Better than this year. If all the fish washed away when it flooded, wouldn't eventually all fish get washed away?

Ditto on the Tackleunderground.com tip - they are great over there and will help you if you ask nice. I reload ammo, tie flies, but don't do the "paint your own" hardbait thing - it just isn't cost effective with my painting skills. I use three baits for suspending jerks - XRaps, Rogues, and these trick babies from XCaliber - the XS4 "Twitch Bait" http://www.xcaliburtackle.com/stick.asp Usually 10- to 12-bucks a pop at Bass Pro. Worth it.